OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team defeated Kansas Wesleyan University 84-74 on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House. The win snapped OU's two game losing streak and is Ottawa's first win over KWU in Wilson Field House since Jan. 16, 2021.

Ottawa jumped out to a 9-2 lead over Kansas Wesleyan in the first five minutes of the first quarter. The Coyotes cut OU's lead to three point, 9-6. The Braves answered by finishing the quarter on an 8-3 run to take a 17-9 lead into the second.

Baskets by Tootie Allen and Abby Dietsche gave the Braves a 22-11 lead at the start of the second quarter. KWU responded with a 9-0 run, cutting OU's lead to 22-20 with 7:32 left in the half.

The Braves put together a 13-3 run and increased their lead over the Coyotes to 35-23. KWU cut into OU's lead and with 2:29 on the clock, the Brave lead was 35-27. OU pushed its lead back to double digits.  A free throw from Janiyah Hendricks and a basket by Kennedy Bankett increased the Brave lead to 38-27.

Two free throws by the Coyotes cut OU's lead to 38-29 with 39 seconds left in the first half. In the final seconds of the first half, Dietsche scored four points and Bankett made one of two free throws to give the Braves a 43-29 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, Kansas Wesleyan's scoring picked up. The Coyotes outscored the Braves 29-19 in the quarter. With 3:13 remaining in the third, KWU tied the game at 55 all. Ottawa retook the lead on a basket by Alatini but KWU quickly answered, tying the game 57-57 with 2:01 left in the third.

The Braves retook the lead on a basket by Dietsche, 59-57. After a defensive stop by OU, Alatini's 3-pt field goal with 1:15 on the clock gave the Braves a 62-57 lead. Kansas Wesleyan was able to score the final point of the quarter on a free throw by Catherine Bowman and Ottawa took a 62-58 lead into the fourth.

Ottawa used a 13-5 run in the first six minutes of the final quarter of play to increase its lead to 75-63. The Coyotes rallied and cut OU's lead to 77-72 with 1:37 left in regulation. A 3-pt play by Johnson and two free throws from Bankett increased OU's lead back to double figures, 82-72 with 48 seconds on the clock. Kansas Wesleyan was forced to foul, sending Dietsche to the free throw line. She made both free throw attempts to give OU an 84-72 lead. KWU scored a basket at the buzzer and the Braves took an 84-74 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Ottawa shot 44.9 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 82.4 percent from the free throw line.
• Four Braves were in double figures led by Abby Dietsche's 21 points. She led OU with eight rebounds. Dietsche also had five blocks.
• Kennedy Bankett finished the game with 17 points and three steals. It was her fourth straight game with double figures.
• Jayla Johnson and Katelyn Alatini both finished with 15 points apiece.
• Janiyah Hendricks led OU with five assists and five steals.

Who is Next
Ottawa (5-4, 2-3) returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 9 against McPherson College in McPherson, Kan. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.